PACT Carnival fundraiser set for July 18-21

The carnival is coming to town, complete with cotton candy and rides and all for a good cause; to benefit the group of volunteers that help keep the streets of Ridgecrest safe.

By Mike BodineSTAFF WRITERmbodine@ridgecrestca.com

The carnival is coming to town, complete with cotton candy and rides and all for a good cause; to benefit the group of volunteers that help keep the streets of Ridgecrest safe. The group is Police and Community Together (PACT). They are the folks that watch homes when the residents go on vacation, clean graffiti, help out at the animal shelter or help with traffic control, such as during the severe wind storm in July that brought down power lines and toppled trees. The group is getting ready to hold its biggest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds to benefit PACT. PACT is for the benefit of the community, so the proceeds will go directly back to the community.Andy Pudgorski, PACT’s volunteer coordinator said that the group has donated more than $3 million in labor to the city in its 20 years of operation. In 2012, the group clocked in 13,000 volunteer hours. Pudgorski said PACT also helps with administrative duties, surveillance and acting as Neighborhood Watch. He added that Ridgecrest Police Department officers have commented on more than one occasion that they like it with PACT at their backs. The group does the jobs few people may even think about, Pudgorski said, like returning shopping carts to their rightful owners, calling neighbors to let them know they left their garage door open and patrolling homes where the owners have gone on vacation. The vacation home watch is a service provided by the RPD. Good neighbors look after each other, Pudgorski added.There are 52 volunteers on the books, from ages 18 to 89, all of different abilities and skill levels. One thing all the volunteers have in common, Pudgorski said, was the obligation they felt to “give back” to the community. PACT Commander Jack Abbott said exactly that, that he felt like giving back after nearly three decades with the Navy. Abbott, a retired prison guard who donates approximately 25 hours a week to PACT, says he appreciates the lifestyle he has and knows that it is partially up to him to maintain it.Abbott added he had some advice for people who may enjoy their lifestyle and want to keep it, or those who think their neighborhood could use some help. “If you want to live in a good community, get involved,” he said.The community is being asked to get involved and have a roaring time at the family carnival set for July 18-21 in the lot next to Home Depot. Pudgorski added the lot is the former site of the original Ridgecrest Fairgrounds.Wrist bands for all-day riding will be available with pre-sale discount tickets available at the RPD Office at City Hall or at GUNS4US, at 417 East Ridgecrest Blvd. This may be the inaugural event for many annual carnivals to come, as the sponsors will be paying close attention to the success of this event to see if they want to come back. The group is completely volunteer driven and donation funded, Pudgorski explained. He said the group gladly accepts donations, although the charitable contributions have not been so fruitful lately. That doesn't mean the group doesn't have its supporters, Pudgorski said. He explained that when the Graffiti Task Force, comprised solely of Lou Arnold, is out in the community busy removing some spray-painted eye sore, a mysterious woman in a white car delivers Arnold a $20 bill.For more information about PACT or to donate, monetarily or as a volunteer go to ridgecrest-ca.gov or call (760) 499-5107.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.